Courtney Crozier ('The Biggest Loser: Couples')

Nobody could hide their emotions during this week's Biggest Loser elimination when Courtney, the sole remaining member of the Red Team, was automatically sent home after falling below the yellow line with a weight loss of 1lb. A double blow saw the additional departure of Brett, who left the ranch because he had no-one left on his team to train. Despite her exit, Courtney - who was 435lbs at her heaviest and has lost over 200lbs on her journey - assured her teammates that she had the strength and support system at home to continue her success. Here's what she told reporters about the experience...

You experienced a plateau this week. Did you ever work out what went wrong?"I knew what was going on when I was at the ranch. My body was just in starvation mode. I wasn't eating enough and that was my own fault because I made my own choices. I thought I was eating enough but I wasn't, so what I was eating, my body was hanging on to. I wouldn't say I was overtraining, but I was at the same burn from the moment I walked on to the ranch and walked off the ranch. That probably wasn't the greatest thing but it had nothing to do with Brett. I was just 'go, go, go' all day long and thought that would be what I needed, but it wasn't. When I got home and took a breather and started eating a little more I realized that is exactly what my body needed. I was too scared to do it on the ranch because I thought I would go home but ultimately that's what sent me home! I have no regrets and I'm glad I figured it out and am continuing at home."

Were you surprised that Brett was sent home?"Yes, I was surprised that he was eliminated. I thought that if I got eliminated that might happen because I had seen it in past seasons with Kim Lyons and stuff. I was nervous about that and put pressure on myself because of that, which I shouldn't have done. I truly care for Brett; he's a great man and helps me so much. I still talk to him to this day and I appreciate everything he has done."

How do you feel when you look at photos of yourself now compared to back when you were your heaviest?"It's so crazy because I think back on who I used to be and what I used to be and I really don't even remember that person. It's crazy how far I have come and I feel so proud every day. There are still times when I look in the mirror and still feel that I'm fat, and then I have to really take a step back and say, 'Courtney, you lost 225lbs and you have to be proud of that'. Seeing the pictures and videos from when I was 435lbs is absolutely amazing, and I feel so proud and blessed and lucky to be where I am today."

What was it like taking those steps to lose the weight at home before the ranch?"The first thing I had to do is change my mind; I had felt I could never get out of the hole I was in but once I decided that I at least had to try, I've never looked back. I didn't work out for the first 30lbs I lost, that was a complete diet change. I actually did the 30-day jump start book by Biggest Loser and that's how I lost the first 30lbs. I did the little exercises they had in there, but it wasn't anything intense at all. After that, I cut out soda from my diet - I used to drink that all the time - and literally lost another 20lbs just from that. Slowly but surely I weaned off other things that weren't good in my life like fast food. Looking back on it, it wasn't that hard. The moment I changed my mind I was fine. Anyone can do it, I promise you that."

How did you meet Bob and end up at a Biggest Loser finale before joining the show?"That was the season seven finale. One of the contestants reached out to me through Facebook and said they had looked at my pictures, they thought I was beautiful and had a good personality and wanted me to be seen by a casting director… I was very hesitant at first thinking, 'Is this a joke? What's going on?' But I ended up going to LA alone and went to the finale, sat in the audience and was completely inspired by it. I met Bob at the after-party and he pointed at me, with everybody looking, and said, 'This girl right here will be on Biggest Loser some day and she will win'. I was like, 'What? Is Bob Harper saying this to me right now?!' That is really when stuff started to click for me. I feel so blessed. There are not a lot of people who can say they have been to a Biggest Loser finale, and I had actually been to two before I made the show. It was about staying connected and just really following what I've wanted; that's what I've done this whole time - followed my dreams and here I am today."

What do you think Bob saw in you?"I think what makes me stand out from other people is that number one, no matter what size I was or what I was going through, I've always had a positive attitude. Even when I get down, my down is not someone else's down - I always try to make the best of the situation I'm in. I think he saw the mental strength in me, and he told me time and time again, 'Mentally you are the strongest person here'. It's true. When I changed my mind to change my life, I haven't looked back a day since then. It definitely has its ups and downs, and I get down too - I'm not Miss Sunshine every single day! But I definitely try to find the good in every situation I'm in and mentally try to stay in the right place. I think that's what Bob saw."

How did the show help you given that you had made so much progress on your own before coming to the ranch?"One thing that I've always wanted to spread through my message is that I never needed the show to do this. I appreciated the show and love it for everything it has given me, but really what it did was accelerate my weight loss because I was going to do this one way or another. I want to spread that to America: you don't need a show to actually change your life. You have to want it bad enough for you and change your mind, and if you have the self-accountability and responsibility then you will do it."

What is the hardest part for you now you've left the ranch?"We have the finale to look forward to and I should be so motivated but I feel like I've been going so hard for so long and I want a break! The hardest part is just wanting to rest but I can't and I don't allow myself too. There are so many temptations in the world but this is about a lifestyle change, it isn't about cutting all bad things out of your life. If I want a slice of pizza, I will have a slice of pizza, but I'll make sure I work that slice of pizza off. I've tried to find a balance in my life about certain things and I think that's the most important part of this entire journey for anyone; it's about balance. You won't be perfect every day and I remind myself that every single day."

How does it feel to know you have inspired so many people across America with your journey?"That's honestly the best part of this whole thing. Changing my own life has been so amazing but one of the biggest reasons I did want to do it through a show is to at least change one other person's life. If I can make one 450lbs girl out there get off the couch and start doing something, that's one thing I really wanted from this. I've had numerous 400lbs plus girls and men come up to me and say, 'I've lost 100lbs, 50lbs…' That, to me, gives me a feeling that is really unexplainable. My mom has always told me, 'God has given you a gift to spread a message to people. You touch people in a way that you don't understand'. I didn't understand it before, but seeing now how people react and how they are actually changing because they have seen me change and have hope because of that, is a feeling that is unexplainable and I feel so blessed to be in the position I am in to spread the message to people."

What have you learned about yourself through the experience on the show?"I've always tried to be the strongest person and strong for everyone around me, and I've realized I don't have to always be that person. I need to ask for help and be able to reach out to other people, which is hard for me because I've always tried to be the strong person - but that got to me to where I was; that got me to be fat. Now I really do count on my support system. Yes, it comes down to me at the end of the day, but to have people in my life who understand and be able to ask them for help is huge. I've started doing that and I think that will be very crucial for the rest of my life."

What is your goal weight?"I've thought a lot about this and for me, the bottom line is that it isn't about numbers at this point, it's about a feeling. The feeling I have on the inside right now is so amazing - I can't even explain it! I know where I was before and I thought I was happy before but I've never been as happy as I am today, and I also believe that tomorrow will be even better than today. For me, it's more about a feeling and I will know where I'm supposed to be. For the show, I'd love to be at 50% loss, which would make me 160lbs. If I get to 180lbs I would have lost over 250lbs on this journey. There are so many ways for me to look at it but at the end of the day it won't be about a number, it will be about a feeling I have."

Have you made any progress with Dairy Queen?"I haven't heard much from them yet but I will definitely be in contact with Lee, who I talked to in the episode. I really want to get fat-free, sugar-free yogurt implemented into the menu at Dairy Queen. I love yogurt - it's delicious - and to have it at Dairy Queen and have that healthy option would be awesome."